The Witchcraft of Salem Village: Amazon.ca: Shirley Jackson: Books

Product Description

Stories of magic, superstition, and witchcraft were strictly forbidden in the little town of Salem Village. But a group of young girls ignored those rules, spellbound by the tales told by a woman named Tituba. When questioned about their activities, the terrified girls set off a whirlwind of controversy as they accused townsperson after townsperson of being witches. Author Shirley Jackson examines in careful detail this horrifying true story of accusations, trials, and executions that shook a community to its foundations.

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Customer Reviews

6 Reviews

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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Average Customer Review

4.2 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent History Lesson for Children, Mar 5 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Witchcraft of Salem Village (Paperback)

This book was an excellent educational book and an easy read for children to understand and learn from. It is clear that this Martha Nassaer has an egotistic issue (arrogance) and has filled her review with what she believes to be impressive words; however, all were meaningless and unimpressive to this reader. It is unfortunate that people would use such a forum to dissuade others from reading such a wonderful book. Obviously, she is not an educator. I highly recommend it for children 8 and up.

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4.0 out of 5 stars MY REVIEW OF THE WITCHCRAFT OF SALEM VILLAGE, Dec 7 2001

By

TARA (OKC,OK,USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Witchcraft of Salem Village (Paperback)

THE WITCHCRAFT OF SALEM VILLAGE WAS AN EXCEPTIONAL BOOK FOR CHILDREN FROM THE AGES 10-13 WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS. I ESPECIALLY ENJOYED IT BECAUSE IT WAS A QUICK AND EASY READ BUT IT KEPT ME INTERESTED THE WHOLE TIME.IT WAS VERY DESCRIPTIVE AND IT HAD TRUE FACTS ABOUT THE WITCH TRIALS.IT WAS A GREAT BOOK AND I RECOMMEND IT TO EVERYONE!!!!

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5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to the Salem witch hysteria, Mar 1 2001

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Elaine Cunningham (New England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Witchcraft of Salem Village (Paperback)

This book introduces young readers to a fascinating and complex incident in American history, and does so with clarity, accuracy, and very good writing. It is suitable for middle readers, but I've also recommended this book to middle and high school students, as it provides the best concise introduction to the topic that I've yet come across. If you've got a term paper looming, start with this book.

Each review has a context -- the background and personal bias of the reviewer. I'm a former history teacher, now a full time writer, and the Salem incident has fascinated me since childhood. Social history, especially the history of witchcraft and witchcraft accusations, is a particular interest. I have a library of several dozen books on the topic, and have read many more. The focus and clarity of this book made it stand out, even against this extensive background. The straightforward storytelling and lack of speculation and moralizing are refreshing, and a fine antidote to ponderous tomes. Historians often forget that storytelling lies at the heart of history; Ms. Jackson has not. Even if your interest is scholarly and you intend to delve into more detail, this book is well worth reading.

I recommend this book to a wide spectrum of readers. Middle readers will be able to absorb the story. Students looking for an overview will find this provides an excellent foundation. For teachers, librarians and parents seeking good nonfiction, this book is far superior to any other young reader treatment I've seen. History teachers who want to cover the subject and need a refresher on the facts -- and a lesson in style -- will find this book useful. In fact, persons of any age and education with an interest in this subject are likely to find this book worthwhile.

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Most recent customer reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars History through Rationalism - an occultic view
One must sometimes delve into the background of an author to acquire that person's worldview and how it molds their material, especially when the material being used for... Read more

Published on May 24 2001 by Martha Nassauer

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to the Salem witch hysteria
This book introduces young readers to a fascinating and complex incident in American history, and does so with clarity, accuracy, and very good writing. Read more

Published on Mar 1 2001 by Elaine Cunningham